235/85R23 vs 255/75R23
Going from one to the other changes the overall height by -1.7 %. That is inside the 3% band, so it fits and the speedometer stays close.
Side by side
| Measure | 235/85R23 | 255/75R23 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 38.7" | 38.1" | -1.7 % |
| Sidewall | 7.86" | 7.53" | -4.3 % |
| Section width | 235 mm | 255 mm | +8.5 % |
| Circumference | 121.7" | 119.6" | -1.7 % |
| Revs per mile | 521 | 530 | +1.7 % |
| Axle height | 19.36" | 19.03" | -8.5 mm |
| Approved rim width | 6.5–8.5" | 7–9.5" | overlap 7–8.5" |
Both are approved on a rim 7" to 8.5" wide. If yours is in that band, this is a tire change and nothing else.
What the speedometer will say
Calibrated for 235/85R23. Fit 255/75R23 and the needle stops telling the truth.
| Needle says | You are doing | Out by |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 29.5 mph | -0.5 |
| 50 mph | 49.1 mph | -0.9 |
| 70 mph | 68.8 mph | -1.2 |
| 90 mph | 88.4 mph | -1.6 |
The odometer drifts with it. Ten thousand miles on the dial are really 9,827 on the road, so it over-counts by 173. At a true 70 mph the first turns 608 times a minute, the second 618.